From Wired:
International travelers concerned about being labeled a terrorist or drug runner by secret Homeland Security algorithms may want to be careful what books they read on the plane. Newly revealed records show the government is storing such information for years.
Privacy advocates obtained database records showing that the government routinely records the race of people [...]
Archive of entries posted on September 2007
U.S. Airport Screeners Are Watching What You Read
Congress Approves Bill To Post Rx Drug Safety Data Online
From iHealthBeat:
Congress last week approved legislation (HR 3580) that aims to provide the public with better and quicker access to data on drug safety and drug development, Technology Daily reports. . .
. . . The compromise legislation calls for FDA Web sites to make more drug reviews publicly available and would create a public, online [...]
Earmark Watch
New from the Sunlight Foundation:
Here’s your chance to investigate earmarks–those spending measures inserted by members of Congress into bills that direct taxpayer dollars to their pet projects. Are members using earmarks to meet pressing needs? Reward political supporters? Are they good public policy, or vehicles for pure pork? Every earmark is different, and we currently [...]
The FOIA Files: Stories that FOIA Made Possible
The Sunshine in Government Initiative has introduced a new database of news articles and stories that are based on documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests:
Countless media outlets, government watchdog groups and individual Americans have used the federal Freedom of Information Act to obtain important information on how — and how well — [...]
Let Congress Know You Are Watching
From OpenCongress:
We are really excited to be releasing our latest widget today. Our new “Congress, I’m Watching” widget lets you announce which bills in Congress you support or oppose, while also sharing links to clear, up-to-date information that encourages others to get involved the legislation themselves.
Any blog, membership group, or other organization can customize the [...]
NFOIC Report Examines How States Resolve Access Issues
From the Sunshine Week blog:
The National Freedom of Information Coalition has released a study of the various ways states resolve access to information disputes without litigation. The report,”Mediation Without Litigation,” reviews state models such as formal and informal resolutions, and mediation by attorneys general or government-sponsored entities.
National Archives and Records Administration Proposed rule on Public Availability and Use of Federal Records
From the Federal Register:
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is proposing to revise its regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The proposed revisions update the regulations for access and release of information under the FOIA among NARA’s archival holdings and NARA’s own operational records.
DATES: Comments are due by November 13, 2007.
DOJ’s Summary of Annual FOIA Reports for Fiscal Year 2006
From the DOJ:
In the past, although not required to do so under the FOIA, the Office of Information and Privacy (OIP) compiled summaries of the information contained in agency annual FOIA reports and made them publicly available. OIP is now resuming that practice starting with the annual FOIA reports for Fiscal Year 2006. Set forth [...]
Analysis of Global e-Government from the Taubman Center for Public Policy, Brown University
Global E-Government, 2007:
In this report, I present the seventh annual update on global e-government. Using an analysis of 1,687 government websites in 198 different nations undertaken during Summer, 2007, I investigate electronic government. Among the significant findings of the research are:
1) 28 percent of government websites offer services that are fully executable online, about the same [...]
Contact Your Senators in Support of Open Access
From ALA’s District Dispatch:
As the U.S. Senate considers Appropriations measures this fall for fiscal year (FY) 2008, please take a moment to remind your Senators of your strong support for public access to publicly funded research and, specifically, ensuring the success of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy by making deposit mandatory [...]